1/11/2019 11:02:00 AMGoody's stores to be replaced by Gordmans in six central Indiana cities

Indianapolis Business Journal

Stage Stores Inc., a Houston-based retailer that operates nearly 800 stores throughout the country under several names, plans to close six Goody’s stores in central Indiana and replace them with Gordmans stores.

The new stores are expected to open in Greenfield, Martinsville, Shelbyville, Greencastle, Crawfordsville and Linton in March, within weeks of the closure of the Goody’s stores.

The Goody’s stores in Martinsville, Crawfordsville, Greencastle and Linton are expected to close about Feb. 23, and reopen as Gordmans on March 7. The stores in Shelbyville and Greenfield should close about March 9 and reopen March 21.

Gordmans is a discount apparel and home-decor retailer that traces it origins to 1915 in Omaha, Nebraska. It has about 70 stores in 22 states. The stores are usually around 18,000 square feet.

The retailer is planning job fairs at each location throughout February to hire new employees. Existing Goody’s employees also will be eligible for jobs at Gordmans, the company said. Employment varies by store but Gordmans plans to hire nearly 600 new employees to help staff 38 Gordmans stores that are opening in March.

Stage Stores has already replaced several Goody’s throughout the country, including Indiana stores in Greensburg and Seymour.

Gordmans is expected to carry a larger selection of home goods than Goody’s.

Stage Stores acquired 48 stores and a distribution center from Gordmans in 2017 after Gordmans filed for bankruptcy and decided to liquidate.

It turned the former department store chain into more of discount retailer that resembles T.J. Maxx and Burlington.

Stage Stores also operates stores under the Stage, Bealls, Palais Royal and Peebles nameplates.

Goody's specializes in brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear and housewares. It is the successor to Goody's Family Clothing, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based chain of clothing stores that went out of business in 2009. The chain operated more than 350 stores in the South and Midwest more than a decade ago.

Stages Stores acquired the Goody's name after it went out of business and re-opened many of the locations.